What is the Mandatory Parenting Programme?

The Mandatory Parenting Programme, introduced in December 2016, requires parents with children under 14 to undergo a private consultation session on parenting before filing for divorce. Rather than being an additional hurdle for divorcing couples to clear, the Programme aims to support families who might be facing conflict – to help parties prepare themselves for parenting after the divorce, and to protect minor children by ensuring their welfare is kept front and centre throughout.

Here’s a quick introduction to the Programme, whether it applies to you, and what it entails.

Q: Who does the Programme apply to?

A: The Programme applies to you if:

You intend to divorce and have a child, or children, who are under 14; and

You have not been able to come to a formal agreement with your spouse on any of several key matters (such as division of the marital assets, child custody and access, or maintenance for either party).

Q: Are there any exceptions?

A: You need apply to the Ministry for Social and Family Development to be exempted from the Programme. Parents who lack mental capacity are also exempted from attending.

Q: Can I not attend?

Q: Who conducts the session and when is it held?

A: The session lasts for 2 hours and is conducted by a counsellor from a Divorce Support Specialist Agency. It needs to be completed before the divorce writ is filed.

Q: What does the session cover?

A: The session aims to help parents understand, and prepare for, some of the legal and practical issues surrounding parenting after divorce. These include finances, housing, custody and access, co-parenting, and the impact of divorce on children.

The Programme is separate from the existing requirement for families with children under 21 to undergo compulsory counselling and mediation after the divorce writ is filed.

Q: Do I have to pay for the session?

A: No, it’s free (and private - you don’t have to attend with your spouse, although you can choose to.)

The Mandatory Parenting Programme, introduced in December 2016, requires parents with children under 14 to undergo a private consultation session on parenting before filing for divorce. Rather than being an additional hurdle for divorcing couples to clear, the Programme aims to support families who might be facing conflict – to help parties prepare themselves for parenting after the divorce, and to protect minor children by ensuring their welfare is kept front and centre throughout.

Here’s a quick introduction to the Programme, whether it applies to you, and what it entails.

Q: Who does the Programme apply to?

A: The Programme applies to you if:

You intend to divorce and have a child, or children, who are under 14; and

You have not been able to come to a formal agreement with your spouse on any of several key matters (such as division of the marital assets, child custody and access, or maintenance for either party).

Q: Are there any exceptions?

A: You need apply to the Ministry for Social and Family Development to be exempted from the Programme. Parents who lack mental capacity are also exempted from attending.

Q: Can I not attend?

Q: Who conducts the session and when is it held?

A: The session lasts for 2 hours and is conducted by a counsellor from a Divorce Support Specialist Agency. It needs to be completed before the divorce writ is filed.

Q: What does the session cover?

A: The session aims to help parents understand, and prepare for, some of the legal and practical issues surrounding parenting after divorce. These include finances, housing, custody and access, co-parenting, and the impact of divorce on children.

The Programme is separate from the existing requirement for families with children under 21 to undergo compulsory counselling and mediation after the divorce writ is filed.

Q: Do I have to pay for the session?

A: No, it’s free (and private - you don’t have to attend with your spouse, although you can choose to.)